Make the most out of your curtain rods with these storage and design tips.
10 Brilliant Uses for Curtain Rods
Updated on Oct. 24, 2023
Hide Wires Inside a Shower Curtain Rod Cover
If you’re mounting your TV to the wall and don’t want to install the wires inside the wall, hide the clutter with a shower curtain rod cover. Lightly sand the cover, then paint it the same color as your wall.
Photo: Courtesy of Zenith.
Pantry Storage: Spices
Small spice containers take up shelf space inefficiently and are difficult to find among taller bottles and items. Use a small spring-tension curtain rod as a simple shelf. It’s easy to install and strong enough to support the spices. Learn how to make this spice rack in our video tutorial.
Add-On Clothes Rod
Don’t let that space underneath the hanging clothing go to waste — add a second clothes rod. Use a chain and some S-hooks to hang the second rod, which you can then adjust to the right height.
Also, discover this no-drill curtain rod bracket idea.
Hang Spray Bottles Under the Sink
It can be hard to keep spray bottles from falling over and making a mess under your bathroom and kitchen sink. Instead, hang spray bottles from a short tension curtain rod to keep them upright. While you’re at it, take a look at this genius curtain rod hack.
Bathtub Toy Organizer
Make bath time cleanup a breeze by putting toy bins right on the side of the tub. This simple hack saves time while attractively organizing bath toys — not to mention eliminating the uniquely adult pain of stepping on a dropped toy in the shower.
All it takes is a closet tension rod, shower curtain rings and open-mesh bins. Once you wrangle the bath toys, you may be in a mood to tackle the rest of the bathroom.
Kitchen Storage Rail
Make space in your kitchen by installing a rail to hang utensils, coffee mugs, pots, pans and more. This is a great storage solution if you have unclaimed wall real estate. It doubles as a great place to arrange and/or dry dish towels and oven mitts.
Jewelry Rack
Set up a tension rod across the back of a closet or along a bathroom sidewall and set some handy S-hooks on it. Now you’ve got suddenly expanded storage for jewelry, scarves and any other items that clutter up your closet.
This tip works especially well for brightly colored object like jewelry or scarves, because they instantly become a focus point in the room. But there’s nothing stopping you from adapting it for other items as well.
Litter Box Coverage
There’s nothing more adorable than a kitten, and few things more unpleasant than seeing that kitten’s litter box. Use a closet tension rod and some spare fabric to give kitty some privacy and a sense of style.
Vertical Storage
Most tension rod installations involve spanning a horizontal distance, but this clever display makes the most out of small floor space by taking it vertically. Often seen used in shower caddies, this approach is also a good fit for garages and pantries.
Curtain Rod Plant Pole
My all-time favorite poles for supporting plants, indoors and outdoors, are sections of brass-plated curtain rods. They’re rust-resistant, inexpensive and attractive. — Carol Crump.
